Folding or creasing device



y 4 G. A. LISSA 2,400,698

FOLDING OR CREASING DEVICE Filed Feb. 25, 1942 Patented May 21, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING B CBEASING DEVICE Gus A. Lissa, Billings, Mont asslgnor to United States Gypsum Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois This invention relates to creasing and folding devices for use in longitudinally creasing or folding fabric or metal tape for use in wall constructlon. The invention is particularly adapted for longitudinally creasing or folding fabric tape such, for instance, as the paper tape described in the Page Patent No. 2,047,982 or the metal tape disclosed in the Green Patent No. 1,703,667. The device is, of course, adaptable for use in creasing or folding any suitable tape, either perforated or lmperforate.

In the erection of wallboard such, for instance, as so-called Sheetrock and other similar material, it is customary to abut the edges of the wallboard, preferably over studs and also at the corners formed by intersecting walls. The edges of the boards are usually abutted as closely as possible, and a tape of the type previously mentioned is adhesively applied over the joint between the boards. The tape may have an adhesive coating on one or both side and is usually embedded in suitable cement-like adhesive placed in the crack and about the abutting edges of the wallboards, and the excess cement is then removed. The cement is allowed to set and harden and then is further treated in the usual well known manner to obtain a smooth monolithic appearing surface.

In many cases the adjacent edges of the wallboard are recessed to receive the tape and cement in a manner similar to that disclosed in the Absmeier Patent No. 1,657,332. 0n flat surfaces the application of the tape is easily accomplished without folding or creasing. However, in the corners formed by the intersection of side walls and the intersection of side walls and ceilings, the tape should first be longitudinally creased or folded before it can properly be applied and embedded in the cement to provide a smooth wall surface. The creasing or folding of the tape by hand requires considerable skill and the average workman is not particularly adept at such work. The present invention is adapted to provide accurately folded or creased tape without requiring skillful technique on the partof the workman.

The tape disclosed in the Page Patent No. 2,047,982 is particularly dimcult to fold or crease by hand for the reason that such tape has a chamfcred or beveled edge to provide a smoother finish and better bond between the embeddin cement and the tape. The tape, therefore, has a sharp edge and, in addition to the danger of cutting the hands on these sharp edges, the cbamfered or feather edge is frequently tom or otherwise distorted, which results in a loss of the tape or greatly decreases the effectiveness of the tape as a joint protection.

In applying the tape to inside wall corners, it is usually desirable to crease or fold the tape along a longitudinal center line. However, for use on exterior corners, it is sometimes desirable to crease or fold the tape on a longitudinal line other than the exact center thereof. The present invention is adaptable for creasing or folding the tape along any desired longitudinal line parallel with the edges of the tape. If the tape is not creased or folded properly, it cannot accurately be lined up along the joint, and this results in an unsightly finished surface and provides a weak joint which in time may result in so-called map cracking of the finish.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a creasing and folding device which may merely be folded about the tape and held snugly in the hand and which will accurately crease or fold the tape as it is drawn therethrough.

A further object is the provision of a tape creasing or folding device which will be cheap to manufacture, convenient in use, and which will not easily get out of order.

Another object is to provide a creasing or folding device of the character described which may be made of a single sheet of any suitable fabric which may quickly be folded around the tape by the user. The device also provides a considerable amount of flat surface area which may be used for advertising, instructions for use, and the like.

Still another object is to provide a creasing and folding device of the character described preferably formed of a single sheet of hinged panels or scored fabric adapted to be folded around the tape and in which at least a portion of the outer surface of the device is provided with a frictional surface .so that it may easily be grasped and held snugly in the hand while the tape is being drawn therethrough during the folding or creasing operation.

Further objects will be apparent from the specification and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in its partially folded condition.

Fig. 2 illustrates a blank from which the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 may be made.

Fig. 8 i a plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 after a tape has been inserted therein and the wines of the device folded over the tape so that the device substantially completely encloses the tape.

Fig. 4 is a top view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 after it has been folded on a longitudinal center line so that a portion of the inturned flaps or wings of the device are in close juxtaposition and the tape is snugly folded therein along a longitudinal line and in a position to be longitudinally creased by pulling the tape through the device.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view through a slightly dlfierent embodiment of the invention wherein the tape may be folded or creased on a line other than its longitudinal center line.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the embodiment illustrated comprises a sheet i, formed for instance from comparatively heavy paper, celluiosic fiber, plastic such as cellulose acetate, Celluloid, or any suitable sheet material the requisite degree of flexibility and semi-rigidity to retain a tape within its confines after it has been folded around the tape.

The device comprises a back portion 2 which is scored along a longitudinal line I so that it tends to fold inwardly on this line. The sheet is also scored longitudinally along lines 4 to provide laterally extending wings I. Each wing, when folded inwardly on its scored line 4, terminates just short of the intermediate score line 3. By this means the wings I may be folded inwardly to overlap the portion 2 and the portion 2 may then be folded inwardly along the score line 3 to bring the wings into close juxtaposition and to form a suitable folded channel for the tape.

The device normally tends to fold to the position.

illustrated in Fig. l.

An important feature of the present invention is the fact that these devices may be made and scored substantially in the form fllustrated and may be packed flat in quantities for shipment. The forward ends of the wings i are arcuately tapered as shown at I and each arcuate edge terminates in a notch 1 in alignment with the respective score line 4 so that the notches and the tapered edges of the wings tend to direct the tape into the closely folded portion of the device when it is in use.

Fig. 3 illustrates one of the folding devices having a strip of perforated tape I inserted therein. The wings I are opened up to insert this tape and are then folded over the tape in the manner shown. The device and the tape therein are then folded along the central longitudinal score line 3 so as to bring the rear ends of the wings into close juxtaposition, as shown in Fig. 4, with the forward ends of the wings tapering outwardly somewhat as illustrated to direct the tape into the device. That portion of the device shown at A (Fig. 4) is grasped snugly by the fingers and the tape may be pulled therethrough. This process very effectively creases or folds the tape along its longitudinal center line. The tape, of course, has a tendency to open up after being pulled through the device. However, it normally opens to slightly less than 90 degrees, so that it may very easily be accurately inserted in the corners of the building structure or fitted over an outside comer.

The central portion or panel 2 of the device is extended rearwardly at 9 to provide a generally tapered extension. This extension preferably has arcuate edges I0 so that, when the tape is placed into the device to start the folding operation, the

endofthe tapeisaccessibleasshownatflin Fig. 5. This enables the complete folding of the tape even at the starting end.

Each opposite side of the folded device-for instance, as shown in Fig. 5-ls preferably provided with an area H having a suitable friction surface. This may be a surface coated with any roughening material. or the sheet itself may be embossed to provide slight projections or other roughened surface so that the device may be snugly grasped in the hand while pulling the tape therethrough.

The configuration of the sheet shown in Fig. 2 is desirable. However, it will be understood that it is not essential and that any generally rectangular sheet of the required semi-rigidity may be used and folded along the required longitudinal lines. For instance, a rectangular sheet of sandpaper may be used with the sand on the outside of the folded sheet. Also, the device may be made up of thin metal panels mechanically hinged together at their edges.

As previously stated, it is sometimes desirable to fold or crease the tape along lines other than the central longitudinal line. This is particularly desirable where exterior corners are to be covered with tape, as the joint between the wallboards is spaced slightly from the actual corner of the structure. Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment partially folded along lines adapted for this purpose. This embodiment comprises a longitudinal back portion I2 creased along a longitudinal line It with a wide wing I4 on one side and a correspondingly narrow wing it on the other side. It will be apparent that such a construction will fold or crease the tape on a corresponding line other than the center line of the tape.

After the tape 0 has been inserted in the device and the device grasped snugly in the hand, it is preferable to draw the tape through quite rapidly, and the abrasive material Ii or other suitable roughened surface is of great assistance in holding the device firmly in position while the tape is being creased. As shown in Fig. 4, the free end of the device is partly open in a substantially V-shape and the curved edges of the wings tend to gradually fold the tape as it is drawn into and through the closed end.

It is intended, of course, that the invention should not be limited to the specific embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein, since modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In the wall surfacing art, the method of forming flexible tape to conform with wall corners formed by abutting wallboards, comprising folding a thin, generally rectangular sheet of fabric snugly around the opposed marginal edges of said tape to snugly overlap the corresponding opposed edges of said tape, folding said sheet and said tape along a longitudinal line between the overlapping edges of said sheet to bring said overlapping portions toward each other, clamping said folded assembly snugly adjacent only one end thereof so that the free end assumes an open vshape in cross section converging toward said clamped end, and pulling said folded tape from said clamped end.

2. The process of creasing or folding fabric tape tween said edges to bring the iolded over portions oi said sheet snugly together, and pulling said tape through said device.

4. A tape folding or creasing device comprising two elongated panels hinged together along their longitudinal edges to form a combined width substantlaliy the width of a tape to be folded, and a panel hinged to the free longitudinal edge 0! each first-named panel so that all oi. said panels may be folded inwardly into close juxtaposition to snugly enclose said tape, each of said secondnamed panels being of less width than its associated first-named panel.

GUS A. LISSIL Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,400,698.

May 21, 1946.

GUS A. LISSA numbered atent requiring correction as after the sy similar to the Fig. 1 than utilizin including suc mstea as shown Fig. these corrections Patent Ofiicer.

lable and period tion. insert Fig. la, is a sectional view taken on a 1 device, but in which hinges are used between the folds therebetween as such hinges, no

hinges being regarded as necessary.

age 2 second column, line 22, after the word "ed es 1a. and that the said therein that the same may conform to rinted specification of the above age 1, second column, line 50,

the following paragraph:

ine transverse of a device in all respects the panels rather view sim'lar to Fig. 1 and strike out the period and insert tters Patent should be read wi the record of the case in e LESLIE FRAZER,

First Assistant tween said edges to bring the iolded over portions oi said sheet snugly together, and pulling said tape through said device.

4. A tape folding or creasing device comprising two elongated panels hinged together along their longitudinal edges to form a combined width substantlaliy the width of a tape to be folded, and a panel hinged to the free longitudinal edge 0! each first-named panel so that all oi. said panels may be folded inwardly into close juxtaposition to snugly enclose said tape, each of said secondnamed panels being of less width than its associated first-named panel.

GUS A. LISSIL Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,400,698.

May 21, 1946.

GUS A. LISSA numbered atent requiring correction as after the sy similar to the Fig. 1 than utilizin including suc mstea as shown Fig. these corrections Patent Ofiicer.

lable and period tion. insert Fig. la, is a sectional view taken on a 1 device, but in which hinges are used between the folds therebetween as such hinges, no

hinges being regarded as necessary.

age 2 second column, line 22, after the word "ed es 1a. and that the said therein that the same may conform to rinted specification of the above age 1, second column, line 50,

the following paragraph:

ine transverse of a device in all respects the panels rather view sim'lar to Fig. 1 and strike out the period and insert tters Patent should be read wi the record of the case in e LESLIE FRAZER,

First Assistant 

